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About the Foundation Our History
In 1953, the Potter-Randall Citizens Recreation, Health and Welfare
Committee conducted a survey regarding community services, resulting in
the formation of a special committee. The Citizens Health Committee
looked closer at the community's health needs. A comprehensive report on
health needs clearly identified a need for more hospital beds.
Consequently, a subcommittee on hospitals was formed. In order to meet
the health needs of the community, the Hospital Committee called for the
formation and spearheaded an effort to establish 1) a City Hospital
District, the first in Texas, created by an amendment to the Texas
Constitution; and 2) a community foundation as a repository for
community contributions. Therefore, the Amarillo Area Foundation was
formed in 1957 for the primary purpose of addressing health care needs.
Upon inception, the first order of business for the Amarillo Area
Foundation was to establish a Plains Hospital Fund for the purpose of
adding 165 beds to St. Anthony's Hospital. More than $1.25 million was
raised and groundbreaking took place in 1958. In 1959, the Foundation
helped finance air conditioning improvements at Northwest Texas
Hospital. Events unfolded rapidly as the Amarillo Area Foundation took
the necessary steps to fulfill its mission of improving healthcare in
the Panhandle:
- The Foundation raised $1,253,457.95 between September 1957 and May 1958.
- December 31, 1958 - Groundbreaking on the 5-story, 165-bed addition at
St. Anthony's Hospital.
- A site for a medical center was approved by the Potter County
Commissioners Court and the City of Amarillo - the land west of the
Veterans' Administration Hospital - upon which by earlier agreement of
the City and County a park would be developed. A sign marked the
location: "Site for Medical Center sponsored by Amarillo Area Foundation
and the proposed Hospital District."
Meanwhile, the Hospital Committee, now a committee of the Foundation,
continued to focus on the need for a regional medical center. As a
result, in 1960 the Amarillo Area Foundation accepted title to 300 acres
of land acquired through cooperative efforts of Potter County, the
Amarillo Hospital District, landowners and private parties.
In 1962, the Amarillo Area Foundation signed a memorandum of agreement
with the Baptist General Convention. The Foundation agreed to build and
equip a hospital if the Baptist Convention would accept and operate the
institution. Thus, High Plains Baptist Hospital came to be with its home
at the new Medical Center.
Amarillo Area Foundation board members strengthened and broadened their
efforts to fully develop the Medical Center's potential to serve the
area's needs throughout the 1960's, when the concept of "community
foundations" was still relatively new. The Foundation at this time also
broadened its purpose to reach into other "quality of life" issues
besides healthcare. Some highlights of the board's activities during the
1960's include:
- Considered the possibility of a two-year medical curriculum for the area
and worked towards its development; discussed the need for a third
general hospital as well as specialized psychiatric hospital, nursing
homes, and the possibility of a State School for mentally retarded
children.
- First discretionary grants were made and grant applications were
accepted.
- Supported the development of the Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation and
the construction of the amphitheatre in Palo Duro Canyon.
- 5 acres of land granted to Children's Psychiatric Center with the
provision for 10 additional acres.
During the 1970's, the Foundation continued to develop the Medical
Center in addition to working towards its now expanded role as a vehicle
for improving the quality of life in all aspects of the community in
Amarillo and the surrounding area. Some highlights and milestones
achieved in the 1970's include:
- A $2 million unrestricted bequest from the Estate of Don Harrington to
the Foundation to provide financial stability to operate the Foundation
professionally
- First executive director hired
- Amarillo Speech and Hearing Center ($200,000) and Children's
Rehabilitation Center ($75,000), received grants of land and funds from
AAF to build facilities at Medical Center
- 3.73 acres of land given for Harrington Cancer Center
Groundbreaking for Harrington Cancer Center
Began purchasing and receiving donated land on west side of Coulter Rd.
- First Scholarship Fund established through donors
By 1979, 18 facilities were located at the Medical Center
In 1988, The Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation changed from a private
foundation to a "public supporting organization" of the Amarillo Area
Foundation, supporting the operations of AAF with its value of $68
million. Also in the 1980's:
- AAF continued to acquire land for the Medical Center.
- AAF created Amarillo Medical Center, Inc. and deeded the medical center
land to continue the development of the center, renaming it the
Harrington Regional Medical Center in 1989.
- Funding Information Library established to assist area nonprofit
organizations in researching funding opportunities.
- Harrington Cancer Center completed.
The 1990's proved to be quite significant for the community foundation
as the Amarillo Area Foundation expanded its role beyond fundraiser and
grantmaker, initiating or facilitating community efforts such as:
- Texas Tech Pharmacy School - AAF served as conduit and fiscal agent for
$13 million project as well as granted $500,000 in cooperation with The
Harrington Foundation.
- Tyler Street Resource Center - AAF initiated the concept of shared
facilities and services to assist the homeless and the needy.
- Community Health Issues Committee - AAF and the Amarillo Hospital
District entered into an agreement to form a committee to assess
community needs, examining our health care system as it relates to those
needs; and developing recommendations for presentation to the Amarillo
Hospital District.
- Facilitated consolidation of services:
- Panhandle Center for Nonprofit Services became a program of the
Harrington Foundation; now known as Nonprofit Service Center. Provided
management assistance and technical assistance to area nonprofits.
- Rape Crises/Domestic Violence Center merged with Family Guidance Center
and was renamed Family Support Services.
- Established own funding initiatives such as:
- CAPROCK Community Service Learning, a collaborative with AISD and the
Junior League of Amarillo.
- Children's Fund - a gift alternative for the holiday season.
- ACE Scholarship Fund - raised $1.5 million in community to match
foundation's support. Scholarship opportunities for Palo Duro students.
- Focused on Youth issues:
- Initiated S.O.S. (Students Off the Streets) Center.
- Fiscal agent for YES-79107, a community Youth Development program funded
through Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.
- Partnership with National Foundations and replication of nationally
recognized programs:
- ACE Sponsor-a-Scholar - a mentoring program to support Palo Duro
students in meeting ACE Scholarship requirements.
- Healthy Steps for Young Children - an initiative by the New York
City-based Commonwealth Fund to meet the needs of parents by fostering
close relationships between pediatric practitioner and parents.
Healthcare Professional Associates is one of 15 national sites selected
to participate in a 3-year study by John Hopkins University School of
Hygiene and Public Health
- Rural Alzheimers Disease Education program established by Texas Tech
University Health Sciences Center to educate and train the rural clergy,
caregivers and families through support services. Approved as a
Community Partners Initiative.
Increased assets from approximately 18 million to over 50 million
dollars.
Scholarship increased from 17 funds with awards of $42,350 to 57 funds
with awards of more than $500,000.
The number of total funds managed and administered by the Foundation
went from 76 to 188.
Of more than 400 community foundations in the U.S., AAF is ranked 45th
in the nation in market value of assets and in grants paid.
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